How to VRML

BANDWIDTH:

When data travels through a phone line, or a cable line, the width of the pipe the data travels through is called Bandwidth. "More Bandwidth" means data has a fatter pipe and travels faster. "High Bandwidth" means that a file, or collection of files are large in size.

CROSS PLATFORM:

When an application works on several operating systems. JAVA works on both Mac, Windows, and Unix, so it is Cross Platform.

EXTENSIONS:

While VRML is a standard technology like HTML, VRML also supports extensions, just as HTML does. Before HTML supported Frames, Netscape introduced the Frames technology as an "extension" and submitted it to the W3 (World Wide Web governing body). Eventually Frames became a part of the HTML standard. Companies use extensions to "extend" the standards capabilities to suit specific functionality needs.

HTML:

HyperText Mark-up Language is the language of the Web. It's how we add images, text, and hyperlinks to Web pages.

JAVA:

An object oriented programming language that can add behaviors (actions, movements, animation) to VRML objects. Of course JAVA is not just for VRML, and VRML doesn't *require* Java to animate, but conveniently, JAVA is a cross platform, industry wide component that adds interactivity and extensibility to VRML worlds.

MULTIUSER:

Refers to multiple users (Avatars) in a single environment, who can communicate with each other, with either text based chat or voice technologies. Multiuser capability is the key component to VRML that creates community and the 3D cyberspace (of the "future," though it's actually happening right now) coined by Nueromancer author William Gibson.

NODES:

Defines the type, name, and default value for each of its fields. There are shape, color, sensor, interpolator, property, group, and sound nodes in VRML 2.0

OPEN INVENTOR:

An object-oriented toolkit for developing interactive, 3D graphics applications. It also defines a standard file format for exchanging 3D data among applications. Open Inventor serves as the basis for the VRML 1.0 (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) standard.

PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY:

Open standards are protocols that everyone has free access to develop with. HTML and VRML are both open standards. Proprietary Technology is privately owned by a company or group of companies and usually needs to be "licensed" (developers must pay a fee) to be used for development.

QuickTime VR:

3D-like technology from Apple that uses several photo images pasted together at a fixed camera point to simulate a 3D environment. It is NOT true 3D, however, because you cannot go "around" objects and cannot change your fixed point as your move through the world.

SCRIPTING LANGUAGE:

Any simplified programming language. Usually scripting languages are used in conjunction with other languages, and our built custom for specific functions. PERL is a scripting language often used to extend the Web's capabilities. VRMLscript and JavaScript are are scripting languages used to extend VRMLs capabilities.

SENSORS:

Provide mechanisms for the user to interact with objects in the world.

Common VRML Sensors:

Proximity Sensors are used to assign behaviors to objects as the get closer to pre-determined other objects, causing a a behavior. If the spider gets close to the door, it will open. If the cat gets close to the dog, the dog will bark.

VisibilitySensors are typically used to detect when the user can see a specific object or region in the scene, and to activate or deactivate some behavior or animation in order to attract the user or improve performance.

TimeSensors generate events as time passes such as a setting sun.

SOURCE CODE:

The program syntax language that tells the world what to look like. When we enter a VRML world we see 3D, but if we click the "view source" option in our browser we get a text document of complex numbers and commands that actually defines the world. VRML is source code for 3-dimensional environments.

TEXTURE MAPS:

Surfaces and images applied to basic geometry. They can sit on flat, contoured, spherical, and irregular shapes. The more polygons a shape has, the more difficult it is to apply a texture map.

URL:

Universal Resource Locators are the "addresses" of Web and VRML sites. http://lvrml.sgi.com is an URL.

VIRTUAL REALITY:

Simulated reality, most commonly defined through use of computers. VRML is the most common way how to experience Virtual Reality in a networked environment (the Internet).

VRML:

VRML is an acronym for "Virtual Reality Modeling Language." Just as HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is a file format that defines the layout and content of a 2D page with links to more information, VRML is a file format that defines the layout and content of a 3D world with links to more information. Unlike HTML, however, VRML worlds are spacious and inherently interactive - filled with objects that react to the user and to each other.

ZIP/UnZIP/GZip:

Compression technologies used to shrink files, in this case, VRML files, to take up less disk space or require less download time.